La legge sull’interruzione volontaria di gravidanza e l’aborto tardivo

Abstract

Law 194/78 regulates the practice of voluntary abortion in Italy. This law identifies two different kinds of abortive procedures: the first one, the therapeutic abortion sensu strictu, can be performed only if the woman’s life is at serious risk. The second one, the indirect eugenic abortion, is allowed only if the foetus has “relevant anomalies or malformations”, and it is aimed at preserving the physical and mental health of the mother. On this point the law is not clear, therefore leading to possible misunderstanding, and subsequent risks for the mother and the physicians. The article provides an overview of the law, explaining its meaning, and underlining its limits and possible interpretative errors.